Dual radiation targeting system

Abstract

Subsurface regions of an X-ray transparent but optically opaque object (60) are targeted along a visible line of sight (42) obtained by the use of two radiation sources (an X-ray (46) and light beam source, preferably a laser (6)). The central ray from the X-ray source and the light beam are aligned using a calibration fixture (15), one to the other and both with respect to structures (59) internal to the object being imaged to provide the visible line of sight. The system, method and apparatus may be used in surgical applications for selective illumination and sighting to reach specific subsurface members of a patients anatomy by guiding an incision.

We claim: 
     
       1. A dual radiation imaging and targeting system comprising fluoroscopic imaging means having a first source of radiation and means including a detector for providing an image of an object positioned between said first source and said detector by radiation which illuminates and is transmitted through said object, said radiation extending along a path between said source and said detector, a fixture attachable to the first source and intersecting of said path, said fixture including means incrementally movable and positionable along two axes orthogonal to each other and generally orthogonal to said path, at least a portion of said fixture intersected by said path being radiolucent to the radiation from said first source, a radiolucent mirror mounted in the radiolucent portion of said fixture and being intersected by said path, a second source providing a visible beam of radiation incident on said mirror and carried by said fixture and offset from said path, said visible beam being reflected from said mirror along said path, collinearizing means removably attachable to said fixture and extending along said path, said collinearizing means including means for providing with said image providing means a visual indication of the relative alignment of the visible beam and an identifiable ray of the radiation from said first source, and a radio-opaque target symbol mounted in said fixture between said first source of radiation and said radiolucent mirror, said symbol mounted in said path to provide said image providing means a second visual indication of the relative alignment of the visible beam and an identifiable ray of the radiation from said first source. 
     
     
       2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said first source of radiation is an X-ray source and said second source is a laser. 
     
     
       3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said laser is operable at sufficient power to cut into said object. 
     
     
       4. The system according to claim 1 further comprising motor operated means for actuating said incrementally movable and positionable means. 
     
     
       5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said collinearizing means comprises a tube having means for indicating the location of said identifiable ray with respect to said path. 
     
     
       6. The system according to claim 5 wherein said indicating means are radio-opaque cross hairs across opposite ends of said tube aligned to intersect along the axis of said tube. 
     
     
       7. A dual radiation targeting apparatus operative with first radiation which emanates from a first source for imaging a deep structure internal of an object positioned along a line between said first source and a detector, which apparatus comprises a second source of visible radiation, a fixture which is substantially transparent with respect to the first radiation, said fixture being positioned along the line between said first source and on one side of the object, a mirror carried by said fixture which is reflective of said visible radiation and substantially transparent to said first radiation, calibration means including a pair of cross-hairs spaced from each other in a direction along said line, viewing means on which an image of said cross-hairs appears, means for positioning said pair of cross-hairs until the images thereof on said viewing means are superimposed thereby calibrating said apparatus so that an identifiable ray of said first radiation is transmitted along said line, said mirror being positioned along said line so that said identifiable ray of said first radiation is transmitted therethrough along said line, positioning means for moving said mirror so that a reflected portion of said visible radiation extends from said mirror along the line in a direction toward the object in collinear relationship with said identified ray, a target symbol which is at least partially opaque to said first radiation, and mounted in said fixture between said first source and said mirror, said target symbol including cross-hairs which appear on said viewing means until said means for positioning superimposes said cross-hairs. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first source produces X-rays and said second source produces a laser beam. 
     
     
       9. A dual radiation targeting device, for use with a laser and a X-ray imaging system emitting an X-ray beam along a central axis through an object to an X-ray detector, which device comprises an X-ray radiolucent mirror positioned so as to direct the beam emitted from the laser along the central axis of an X-ray beam in the direction of the object, an X-ray opaque target symbol positioned along the central axis behind said mirror, a calibration tube having a pair of cross-hairs spaced from each other in a direction along said axis, said tube being mounted for movement transverse to said axis, an X-ray imaging device on which images of said pair of cross-hairs from said tube and said target are superimposed when an identifiable ray of said X-ray beam is collinear with said axis, and means for directing an optical beam along a line of sight collinear with said axis for targeting structures internal to the object.